Behavioural and neuropsychological outcomes in children exposed in utero to maternal labour epidural analgesia
Authors' conclusion
Although LEA exposure was associated with slightly higher total behavioural scores, there was no difference in subscores, increased risk of clinical deficits, or dose-response relationship.
Study context
- Population
- Children of the Raine Study, Western Australia, delivered vaginally from a singleton pregnancy 1989–1992
- Participants
- 2,180 children
- Exposure
- Labour epidural analgesia (LEA) exposure vs no exposure
- Exposedn = 850
- Outcome
- Parent-reported CBCL total, internalising and externalising behavioural problem scores
- Follow-up
- Age 10 yr
Methodological detailsbirth cohort (Raine Study)
- Birth cohort (Raine Study)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted score difference (Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) total)
+1.41 points
95% CI 0.09–2.73P = 0.037
Exposed
Adjusted score difference (internalising)
+1.13 points
95% CI −0.08 to 2.34P = 0.066
Exposed
Adjusted score difference (externalising)
+1.08 points
95% CI −0.08 to 2.24P = 0.068
Exposed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Language, motor function, cognition, autistic traits
- Score differences inconsistently observed in motor function and cognition
Dose-response by LEA exposure duration
- Increased exposure duration not associated with worse scores in any outcome
Original publication
Behavioural and neuropsychological outcomes in children exposed in utero to maternal labour epidural analgesia. Br J Anaesth. Published 3 May 2024. doi:10.
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